Sustainability at Western Washington University A Director For Sustainability

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Sustainability at Western Washington
UniversityA Director For Sustainability
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Outline of our presentation

• I. Director of Sustainability
• A. Responsibilities
• B. Why does Western need a Director of
  Sustainability?
• C. Examples
• 1. Storm Drain
• 2. Pesticides
• 3. Other
• D. Watershed Pledge
• E. Conclusion

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The Director of Sustainablity

• Responsibilities

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Identify opportunities to reduce Westerns
adverse impact on the environment, with emphasis
on reducing the use of natural resources
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Review materials being purchased by the
University and interact with Campus Purchasing
and make recommendations for maximizing the level
of reusable, recycled, and/or recyclable content
of all goods and services being procured.
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Why do we need a Director for Sustainability?
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• Western needs to demonstrate that it is committed
  to sustainability, as stated in the Institutional
  Master Plan.
• To promote, implement, and monitor the Watershed
  Pledge.
• Western needs an educational resource for
  sustainable practices campus-wide.

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Promoting Environmental Education

• To educate promote sustainable development
  principles
• To coordinate informational workshops for staff
• To cooperate with the A.S., Physical Plant and
  other departments to implement sustainable
  practices
• To organize and lead training of the Residential
  Life Staff and residence hall Environmental
  Liaisons regarding recycling and energy and water
  conservation

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Examples
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Current storm drain treatment facilities

• A steps towards sustainability.
• An educational resource.
• Identify potential for failure
• - clogging rock beds
• - toxicity killing plants
• - mechanical malefactions leading to
• - overflow of system

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Alternatives to underground storm water
retention

• A natural Marsh or wetland system
  -alternative for six-month storm water
  pipe
• A board walk system
  -A valuable
  asset to campus diversity
• Sign post and species mark
  -enhance educational resources on
  campus -educate
  the community of wetlands value for water
  purification.

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Pesticide Use on Campus

• Western Washington University uses Integrated
  Pest Management.
• The Physical Plant Gardeners only use pesticides
  as a last resort.
• 4 Insecticides
• 7 Herbicides
• There are only 7 Gardeners employed to manage 160
  acres.

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How does Pesticide Use Relate to the Director of
Sustainability?

• The Director of Sustainability could answer
  student and facility questions about pesticide
  use on campus.
• They could keep records of pesticide use for
  public view.
• To uphold current laws.

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Other Issues

• Sustainable Building Supplies
• Transportation
• OELS Preservation

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The Watershed Pledge

• What is the Pledge?
• Designed by the Department of Ecology.
• To insure a high quality environmental standard
  for Whatcom County residents.
• Numerous businesses and residents have taken the
  pledge.

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How does the pledge work?

• Departments within the institution would fill out
  the questionnaire included with the pledge to
  evaluate current practices.
• A plan is devised to counter the impact the
  institution has on the local ecosystem.
• A director would be hired to maintain and uphold
  the pledge.

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Why should Western sign the pledge?

• Western would become an example of an
  ecologically sound and advanced university.
• To exemplify Westerns commitment to the the
  three guiding values for creating the IMP
  sustainability, and 2 others..
• To show community support and solidarity.